US2275601A - Earth mover - Google Patents

Description

EARTH MOVER Filed Dec. 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS A k Wm wwm Wu, WW7 ww ffi March 10,1942. I

'1 w. AUSTIN EI'AL EARTH MOVER Filed Dec. 11, 1939 2 Sheet s-Sheet 2 V INVIENTORS [7/5W0f/fi W 115/07 Patented Mar, 10, 1942 UNITED STATES- QPATENT OFFICE ma'rn MOVER Ellsworth W. Austin and Harvey W. Rockwell,

Cedar Rapids, Iowa, assignors to LaPlant- Choate Manufacturing Company, Incorporated, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware Application December 11,1939, Serial No. 308,579

17 Claims.

Our invention relates to earth movers generally embodied as tractor-drawn wheeled vehicles for dislodging or scraping and carrying earth for transfer to or dumping in .a remote location, and is concerned especially with an earth mover oi the type shown in the copending application of Ellsworth W. Austin, Serial No.

, 299,299, filed October 13, 1939, and entitled Excavator, of which this application is a continuation in part.

In devices of the character referred to, there is usually provided a drawn vehicle having a main bowl or comparable earth-containing in-' strumentality which is provided with a closure to retain the earth during transportation, and a pusher for dislodging the earth when it is to be discharged. It is desirable to manipulate the earth container in such a way as to raise and lower a cutting edge thereon as well as to advance and retract the pusher and to open and close the end closure or front apron.

It is likewise advisable to provide such instrumentalities in such a way that the; can be controlled by the operator of the tractor drawing the earth mover and to provide such operator with a relatively simple control device. For example, two control levers are considered to be the optimum number.

It is therefore an object of our invention to provide an earth mover in which the pusher and the end closure are correlated for conjoint operation.

Another object of our invention is to provide a connection between such elements in an earth mover to afford the desired relative movement thereof.

schematic form in longitudinal vertical section,

connected to a winch-mechanism shown in diagrammatic form in transverse cross-section, the earth mover being in a convenient position for excavating; I

Fig. 2 is a diagram similar to Fig. 1 but showing the earth mover in carrying position;

Fig. 3 is a diagram similar to the preceding figures but showing the earth mover in a lower,

expelling or discharging position; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to the preceding schematic figures, showing the earth mover in a raised position for expulsion or discharge of material.

In its preferred form, the earth mover of our invention includes an earth container having a cutting edge and also having an earth pusher and a closure, the pusher and the closure being 7 related by a direct pivotal connection and being actuated in company with the main bowl by means of a pair of control cables, one of which extends from the pusher and closure to a first winch drum which is normally frictionally braked but is provided with a control lever for releasing the restraint of the brake and connecting the drum to a source of power, the pusher and the end closure being also provided with a second cable preferably related through a speed reduction to adjust the cutting edge of the main bowl and extending to a second winch drum normally restrained by a friction brake and under the control of a second lever for releasing the restraint of. the brake and connecting the drum to a source of driving power.

While the earth mover of our invention can be incorporated in a very large number of difierent forms, depending upon surrounding circumstances, especially upon commercial requiremerits, it is illustrated schematically or diagrammatically herein in order to show the general principles of the invention, it being understood that various mechanical modifications can be made within the ability of those skilled in the art.

The earth mover comprisesa vehicle, generally designated :6, which is provided with a draft connection l ordinarily connected to a draft vehicle, such as an engine-operated tractor (not shown), although the vehicle 6 can itself carry a source of propelling power in which instance the draft vehicle is dispensed with; The earth mover 6 includes a pair of front dirigible wheels 8 for guiding the vehicle, which are appropriately articulated with the frame 9 connectedfby a pivotal connection It to the opposite side walls I2 oi the device. At their rearmost terminals the side walls I2 carry rear ground-engaging wheels N which, in concert with the wheels 8, bear the weight of the vehicle.

Included in the vehicle is a bottom or earthsupporting surface II which spans the side walls !2 and together therewith constitutes a main .tween the side walls l2 and is sometimes referred to as an end closure, end apron or front apron. Its general function when closed is to retain earth loaded within the main bowl, yet when open is to be in a position definitely out of the way of material entering or being discharged from the main bowl. For that reason the front apron l'i continues its arcuate curvature, in accordance with our invention, and is connected by a pivotal connection it or a simple pivot to a carriage |9 which is preferably constrained by any suitable means, such as a track 20 on the walls i2 and co-operating rollers 26 on the carriage id, to rectilinear translation relative to the side walls l2 of the main bowl, so that the pivot It moves in a straight path fore and aft as the carriage I9 is moved. Also to determine the path of movement of the front apron ll, there is provided a linkage in the form of a strut 2! which at one end is connected by a pivot 22 to the front apron I1 and at the other end is connected by a pivot 23 to an ear 26 projecting from the side wall 12 of the main bowl. The strut it permits the pivot I8 to move in a rectilinear path, while the end of the frontapron ll most nearly adjacent the cutting edge it moves in a curved ath. p The carriage I9 is rigidly fastened to and generally is included within a structure ordiriarily referred to as a pusher or sometimes as a rear end gate or ejector, which likewise incorporates a plate-24 extending in an approximately vertical plane and transversely of the main bowl between the walls |2; so that as the carriage I9 moves fore and aft, the wall 2% likewise so moves. Because the front apron I1 is pivoted to the pusher, the two partake of movement with respect to each other conjointly and also move simultaneously with respect to the main bowl; but the linkage is such that for the initial forward movement of the wall 24 the lower edge of the front apron ll moves very rapidly away from the cutting edge l6, so as to give a quick and.

large initial opening of r the front apron before the wall 24 has advanced very far. During the intermediate portion of advancement of the wall 24 the front apron I1 is opened very widely to give an unhampered egress from the main bowl, and during the final portion of movement of the 38, pivoted on the casing 33, co-operates to move the winch drum axially of the stationary shaft 34. A spring 39 normally urges the drum 32 in one direction against an adjustable stopfll which can be suitably regulated so as to adjust the maximum-amount of frictional engagement between a cone 43 on the drum 32 and a similar conical seat 44 integral with the casing 33 and controlled lever 38 away from the cone 44, the

restraint of the brake is released. and the drum passes through a neutral unrestrained position and then into engagement with a power driving structure. This includes a drive shaft 46 extending from the tractor power plant, for example, or from any suitable source of power, and includes a bevelgear 4? which meshes with a bevel gear d8 included with a power cone d9 freely rotatable on the. shaft 3 3 and engageable wall 24 the front apron I1 opens even farther;

r so that latter positions of the wall 24 are adaptable for the discharge or receipt of an exceedingly high or voluminous body of material from or into the main bowl. These desired relative movements of the pusher and the front apron are made possible by directly pivoting the front apron to the'pusher and by .then connecting the mounted within a casing 33 upon a stationary shaft- 34 anchored within the housing 33 The drum 32 includes a central winch portion 36 and I a shifting collar 31 with which an operating lever by a 'co-operating cone 5| at one end of the drum 32, so that when the lever 33 is moved a maximum amount against the restraint of the spring 39, the cones t9 and 56 are in engagement and the drum is driven by power derived from the shaft it. Thus, when the lever 38 is appropriately manipulated, the cable 3| can be wound upon the drum 36 by power means, or when the lever is in a neutral position the cable 3| is unrestrained so far as drum rotation is concerned, and, finally, when the lever 38 is in a braking position the cable 3| is restrained from paying out cable from the drum 36 by whatever degree of restraint is frictionally exercised by the brake 43. The brake restraint is partially under the control of the operator, but. the maximum amount is under the control of the adjustment 4| which can be set so as to provide for all .practical purposes an absolute frictional lock against any movement of the cable 3| when the brake is fully applied, or can be given any intermediate degree of adjustment so that there is any desired amount of resistance to paying out of the cable 3| from the drum 36.

A similar power mechanism is employed for retracting the pusher and lowering the front apron, but this structure also includes mechanism for performing a further function. To the carriage I9 is attached a second cable 6| which extends around a reversing pulley 62 mounted on the side wall i2, and thence around a pulley 63 for convenience mounted upon the frame 9. To the forward portion of the main bowl wall I2 is secured a fitting 64 on which a sheave 66 is mounted and around which the cable 6| passes just prior to extending over a pulley 61 mounted on the frame 9. The passage of the cable Bl over the pulleys 63 and 61, and especially over the sheave 66, constitutes a speed reduction in that for each unit that the cable 6| moves in a I commercial, embodiment, movement, linearly of the cable 6| through one unit of distance produces only a tenth or twelfth of that amount of movement of the fitting 64 and hence an even smaller rising or falling movement of the cutting edge I 6.

'I'he mentioned movement of the cable 6| is provided by a second winch structure, generally designated 12, incorporating "a. second winch drum "having a driving connection 19 to the shaftj46 and a resisting brake 84, all under the control of an operating lever 98 normally urged toward one position by a spring 69 under the control-bf an. adjustment 9| for regulating the maximum resistance to paying-out of the cable 6|. It. will be observed that while the drive shaft 46 rotates the drums 16 and 36 in opposite directions on the stationary shaft 34, the cables 3| and 6| are wound upon such drums in opposite directions; so that both the cables 3| and 6| are tensioned by a movement toward the right hand inFig. l and are slackened by a movement toward the left hand in that figure.

With the arrangement of winches and cables described, various possibilities of operation are presented. Various effects can be produced at different times by changing the adjustments 4| and 9| and byvaryingthe speed reduction or ratioefl'ectuated by the sheave; but in an exemplary arrangement the earth mover is shown inFig. 1 as in an excavating position with the pusher'in a position slightly forward of its extreine rearward position. If, then, it is desired to raise the cutting edge I6 from excavating or cutting posititon and to close the front apron so as to carry the previously excavated material,

this can be done in at least two ways. In the first way, the control lever 38 can be moved so that the drum 36 is in neutral position, allowing no restraint whatsoever to be imposed by the cable 3|, and the control lever 88' canthen be operated so as to take in or draw in the cable 6|. Since the resistance to rearward movement of the pusher and front apron is relatively slight, usually being less than that of the main bowl to be raised, the carriage I 9 is first drawn rearwardly until such time as a part of itfor example, the plate 24abuts a stop 96 defining the rearmost position of the pusher with respect to the main bowl. As soon asthe pusher strikes such stop, it cannot move farther, but further move ment is not necessary since in such position the front apron isclosed or is in its lowermost position. Continued tension upon the cable 6|,

however, results in lifting the fitting 64 so that the cutting edge I6 is raised, for example into the position shown in Fig. 2. In such position the controls 88 and 38 are released by the operator and both return by the springs 39 and 89 into maximum restraining position so that the parts are held as positioned. I

As a second manner of operation, assuming that the parts are initially as shown in Fig. 1, it is notnecessary first to manipulate the lever 38 to release the cable 3|, but such lever can be left in its normal position in which the drum 36 is frictionally restrained.- If, then,'the lever 89 is manipulated to connect the drum 16 to the source of power, the cable 6| is tensioned and operates against two resistances, one of which is composed of the resistance to movement of the pusher and front apron, which is relatively slight, plus the resistance to unwinding imposed upon the cable 3| by the brake 44, whereas theother resistance is the resistance to lifting of the main bowl as proportioned by the speed reducing mechanism including the sheave 66. The cable 6|, being tensioned. will then first effectuate whichever of the two movements involves the least resistance, and, if the adjustment 4| is so disposed, taking in of the cable 6| will first move the pusher rearwardly and close the front apron and, when the stop 96 is struck, as before, the cutting edge It will then be raised.

0n the other hand, if the adjustment 4| is such that the resistance to rising of the cutting edge I6 is less than the resistance to rearward movement of'the pusher and front apron plus the resistanbe of the brake u, then thecutting edge l6 will. be lifted as the main bowl is lifted, at least until such time as the side walls I! strike an upper stop 91 on the frame 9. Contact between the main bowl and the frame stop 91 increases the rising resistance, so that then the pusher and the front apron will be drawn by the cable 6|, against the resistanceof the cable 3|, into their rearmost position. At that time the lever B, being released by the operator, returns to its normal restraining position so that the parts are held in the position shown in Fig. 2.

'The various resistances referred to are made up of load resistances, frictional resistance to movement of the various parts, and resistances due to the weight of the various parts and their linkage as variously affecting each other in different positions of the parts, as well as the frictional brake resistance imposed by regulation of the adjustments 4| and 9|. In addition, while the adjustments 4| and 9| are shown as maximum limits, either they can be varied during operation of the machine or, what'is more usual, the operator, by nicely regulating the position of the levers 38 and 86, can likewise regulate the amount of resistance ofiered'by either of the brakes 44 or 84 to the movement of the cable 3| or the cable 6| at any intermediate degree up to the set maximum for each. Thus, the particular sequence of operations desired under any circumstances can readily be regulated either by nice manipulation of the levers 36 and by the operator or by predetermined regulation of the adjustments 4 and 9|, or by both.

Under most conditions of adjustment, however, it is characteristic of this arrangement that the drawing in of one of the cables 3| or 6| is accompanied by a paying out of the other cable against a brake or frictional resistance which is substantially constant throughout the entire movement of the cables. In some structures the drawing in or tensioning of one of the cables, although entirely unrelated to the other cable, is effective to compress or tension a resistance such as a spring, which is not constant but which increases rapidly or markedly during the cable movement, so that the conditions of operation alter even while an operation is taking place. In

the present instance, however, the resistance be- 7 ing preferably of the frictional type or having similar characteristics, is substantially constant throughout the entire operation and, unlike a spring, need not be reversed to be released the pusher and the front apron are then drawn forwardly and raised, accompanied by a free paying out of the cable 6|. As'another possibility,

the lever 88 can-be left alone and only the lever amount of resistance offered by the brake .84. ,If

this resistance is relatively slight, then the cutting edge will lower, as in the previous instance, but if the resistance is relatively great,the cutting edge will remain in uppermost position until the resistance is released by slight operation of'the lever 88.. Because of the speed reduction due to the'sheave 66 the amount of cable 6| which must be advanced in order to afford a A complete stroke of the pusher forwardly by taking in cable 3| and rearwardly by paying it out against thedrop of the main bowl, even if no cable 6| whatsoever is taken in or paid out, is accompanied by only arelatively smaller. rising and falling movement-of the main bowl and, consequently, the cutting edge ii. Therelation of the movements is two to one,as diagrammatically shown in the drawings, but in closure and said discharging means with respect' co'mplete stroke of the pusher is suflicient to'produce only a relatively smaller movement of the main bowl.

commercial practice, as described above, the rela- .tion is usually ten or twelve to one.

In order to move the structure from the posi tion shown in Fig. 3 into the positionshown in 4, the usual way is to leave the lever 3:8 in

' braked position so that the cable 31 is held, and

then to take in upon the cable ii so that this cable pulls against the cable 3| and also against the sheave 66, the resistance of movement of l which is less than the brake resistance of the drum 36 so that this change in position is effectuated. Then, to move the structure from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig.

2, for example, the cable 6| can be taken in at the same .rate at which the cable 3| is paid out,-

in which instance the position of the cutting edge I 6 does not change but the pusher moves rearwardly and the front apron closes. Conversely,

if the cable 3| is taken in at the same rate that the cable 6| is paid out,the position of the cute ting edge does not change but the pusher moves forwardly while the front apron opens-that is, from Fig. 2 position intoFig. a position.

' While in the foregoing description the manipulation of the levers 38 and 88 has been usually referred to as being from one extreme position toanother, or term intermediate neutral position,

andwhile the operation of the levers has been described sequentially, a skilled operator in cornmercial practice moves the levers 38 and 88 in varying amounts, not'only to the extreme positions but ingradations therebetween and also more or less simultaneouslmdepending upon the 'weclaimz i o 1. An earth mover comprising an earth container, a closure for one side of said container,

means for discharging earth from said container connected by a pivot to said closure, means independent of said pivot for articulating said closure on said container, and means for moving said to said container.

2. Anvearth mover comprising a main bowl, a

front apron, a pusher movable within said main. bowl and pivotally connected to'said front apron,

and a strut connection between said frontapron and said main bowl.

3. An earth mover comprising a main bowl, a front apron mounted at a predetermined location [on said main bowl, and a rigid earth pusher movable within said main bowl and pivoted on said front apron at a different location.

4. An earth mover comprising a main bowl, a front apron having spacedmounting points movably mounted on said main bowl at one of said points, a rigid earth pusher movable within said main bowL'and a direct pivotal connection be tween said pusher and 'saidfront apron at an- 1 other of said points.

5. An earth movercomprising an earth-com 'taining framework, means forexpelling earth from said framework, means movable with respect to said framework for retaining, earth therein, ,a strut pivoted to said framework and to said retaining means, and a pivotal connectionbetween said expelling means and said retaining means.

6. In a machine, of the class described, the combination of an earth-containing 'body; an end apron movably mounted upon said body, and translated load-removingmeans pivoted on said end'apron extending the entire width of the body and across the entire depth of said body when the end apron is wide open, for forcing a load in said body to be entirely removed therefrom.

'7. In an earth mover body, a transversely extending member movable within said body, a movable end apron adapted in one position to close the end of said body, a strut mounted on v said body and connected with said end apron,

and a pivot connection between saidtransversely extending member and said end apron for con straining said transversely extending member and said end apron to move conjointly'.

particular maneuver which is to .be accomplished. Withthe described arrangement, however, it

has been commercially demonstrated that with but two cables, such as 6| and 3i, connected to winches of the character shown, the pusher and th front apron are positively moved conlointly and in opposite directions by, power, and the cutting edge of the main bowl is raised and low ered as desired. 1

8., An earth mover comprising a main bowl, a a

pusher movable within said main bowl, afront apron pivoted on said pusher to turn about a predetermined axis, and means for movably con-.

necting said front apron to said main bowl to turn about a plurality of. different instantaneous axes.

9. An earth mover comprising a main bowl, a pusher translatable within said main bowl, a front apron pivoted to said pusher, and an articulationbetween said front apronand said main bowl.

10. An earth mover comprising an earthcarrying bowl, a pusher mounted for a predetermined ;movement within said bowl, 9. first power means effective when energized to move said pusher in'one direction of said movement and when de-energized to resist movement of said pusher in the other direction of said movement, and a second power means effective when energized to move said pusher in said other direction and when de-energized to resist movement of'sald pusher in said direction.

11. An earth mover including an earthcarrying bowl, a pusher member mounted to move within said bowlin a first direction and in a second, opposite direction, a first power means eifective when energized to move said member in said first direction, a second power means effective when energized to move said member in said second direction, and means for imposing a substantially constant resistance to movement of said member in said first direction and said second direction.

12. An earth mover comprising an earthcarrying bowl, a pusher member mounted to move within said bowl in a first direction and in a second direction, a first winch drum, a normally applied brake restraining said first winch drum, a first cable connected to said first drum and to said member, means for releasing said brake and energizing said first drum to wind in said first cable to move said member in said first direction, a second winch drum, a normally applied brake restraining. said second winch drum, a second cable connected to said second drum and to said member, and means for releasing said brake and energizing said second drum to wind in said second cable to move said member in said second direction.

13. An earth mover comprising ground engaging means, an earth sustaining member supported by said ground engaging means and adapted to be raised and lowered with respect to the ground, an earth abutting member supported by said ground engaging means and first cable connected to said first drum and to said earth abutting member, a second winch drum, a second normally applied brake thereon, a second cable connected to said second drum and to said earth sustaining member and to said earth abutting member, means for releasing said I first brake energizing said first drum, and means adapted to be moved to and fro with respect to said earth sustaining member, a first winch ior releasing said second brake and energizing said, second drum.

14. An earth mover comprising an earth-containing bowl having an open end, a pusher constrained to'move through said bowl in a rectilinear path, a pivot mounting on said pusher, and a front apron adapted to'occupy said open end and connected to said pivot mounting.

15. An earth mover comprising an earth-containing bowl, a pusher within said bowl, a pivot mounting ori said pusher constrained to move in arectilinear path, and a front apron connected to said pivot mounting.

16. In an earth mover, as a subcoinbination, a front apron having a pair of mounting pivots, means for constraining one of said pivots to movement in an arc, means for constraining the other of said pivots to movement in a straight line, and means for imparting a thrust to said other pivot in the direction of said line.

17. An earth mover comprising an earth-containing bowl, an apron, means constraining said apron to lifting movement from a position closing said bowl toward an open position, an earth pusher within said bowl and pivoted to said apron, and means applied to said pusher for raising said apron.

ELLSWORTH W. AUSTIN. HARVEY W. ROCKWELL.

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